PESHAWAR: At least 16 people, including five police personnel and 11 civilians, were martyred and more than 54 injured in a suicide blast at a mosque in the Police Lines in Kohat on Friday, while six terrorists were killed in the ensuing security operation, police.
Rescue officials, however, put the death toll at 15 and the number of injured at 40.
According to a latest police statement, a suicide attacker blew himself up near the Special Branch building following the blast.
Police and Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) personnel engaged in an exchange of fire with militants inside the Police Lines compound, according to the statement.
Seven armed terrorists infiltrated the Police Lines following the blast at the mosque, the Central Police Office said.
Police and CTD personnel engaged the militants, while a militant sniper was killed in the initial stage of the operation, it added.
So far, six terrorists, including the suicide bomber and the sniper, have been killed, according to the Central Police Office.
The clearance operation against the militants had entered its final stages, the police said.
KP Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hamid said the provincial police had the full capability to eliminate the militants.
Fourteen ambulances, 20 rescue vehicles and a recovery vehicle, along with more than 60 rescue personnel, were taking part in the search and rescue operation, Rescue 1122 said.
Rescue teams remained engaged in searching the site and would continue their operation until it was completed, it added.
Earlier, KP police said around 25 people had been injured in the blast near the old Police Lines and that an exchange of fire with armed attackers was under way.
Earlier, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police said around 25 people had been injured in the blast near the old Police Lines and that an exchange of fire with armed attackers was under way.
According to initial information provided by the KP police, an explosives-laden vehicle was rammed near the old Police Lines, although authorities were still determining the exact nature of the blast.
Inspector General of Police KP Zulfiqar Hamid had taken notice of the explosion at the Police Lines mosque and sought a report from the Regional Police Officer Kohat.
The KP police chief also directed officials to ensure timely and proper medical treatment for those injured in the blast.
A HUM News reporter at the scene said the road around the Police Lines mosque had been sealed off as security personnel engaged the attackers. Two blasts were heard near the mosque, followed shortly afterwards by a third explosion, the reporter said.
KP police chief seeks report
Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hamid took notice of the blast at the Police Lines mosque in Kohat and sought a report from the Regional Police Officer, the KP police public relations directorate said on Friday.
Initial information suggested that an explosives-laden vehicle had been rammed near the old Police Lines, although authorities were still working to determine the exact nature of the blast, the statement said.
Around 25 people were initially reported injured, it added.
An exchange of fire between police and armed attackers was also under way following the explosion, according to the statement.
Hamid directed officials to ensure timely and adequate medical treatment for those injured in the blast.
The IGP said the KP police stood as a “wall of steel” against terrorism and that such attacks would not weaken the force’s morale.
“The blood of the martyrs will not go to waste,” Hamid said, adding that militants and their facilitators would face severe consequences.
KP CM condemns Kohat Police Lines blast, seeks report
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Friday took notice of the blasts at the old Police Lines in Kohat and sought a report from police authorities, condemning the incident.
Afridi described the incident as a “highly regrettable and unacceptable” act of terrorism and directed authorities to use all available resources to provide immediate medical treatment to the injured.
He ordered hospitals to ensure prompt treatment and the availability of all necessary medical facilities for those wounded in the blast.
The chief minister also directed authorities to make arrangements to shift critically injured patients to other hospitals, if required.
“Targeting innocent citizens is highly regrettable and condemnable,” Afridi said.
He ordered officials to examine all aspects of the incident and submit a detailed report.
Afridi said “cowardly acts of terrorism” could not undermine the nation’s resolve.
KP governor condemns Kohat Police Lines blast
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi on Friday strongly condemned the blast at the old Police Lines in Kohat, describing the incident as deeply regrettable.
Kundi said such “cowardly acts” could not shake the nation’s resolve and courage.
He directed authorities to ensure the provision of the best possible medical facilities to those injured in the blast and prayed for their speedy recovery.
The governor said the nation stood with the security forces in the fight against terrorism.
He added that the sacrifices made in the war against terrorism would not go in vain.
President expresses sorrow over the blast
President Asif Ali Zardari expressed sorrow over the blast and conveyed his best wishes for the speedy recovery of those injured.
He directed the authorities to ensure that the injured receive immediate and the best possible medical treatment, saying the complete elimination of Fitna al-Khawarij and terrorists operating with external support was essential for national security.
PM condemns blast
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the explosion and expressed deep sorrow over the injuries. He directed the relevant authorities to provide immediate and the best possible medical care to the victims and prayed for their speedy recovery.
He also sought a report on the nature and causes of the explosion and ordered authorities to expedite rescue operations and provide all possible assistance to those affected.
Interior minister condemns blast, mourns loss of lives
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Friday strongly condemned the blast near the old Police Lines in Kohat and expressed deep grief over the loss of lives.
Naqvi expressed condolences to the families of those killed in the attack and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.
“We stand with the families of the martyrs in this hour of grief,” Naqvi said. He said the “cowardly actions” of the Khawarij could not weaken the nation’s resolve.
KP information minister condemns Kohat blast
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Minister Shafi Jan on Friday strongly condemned the blast near the old Police Lines in Kohat and expressed grief over the deaths in the incident.
He said that emergency had been declared at hospitals in Kohat, while instructions had been issued to ensure the provision of the best possible medical facilities to those injured, the minister said.
“Targeting innocent civilians is an extremely regrettable and cowardly act,” Jan said.
He said Islam, like other religions, did not permit such cowardly acts.
Jan, who is also members of KP Assembly from Kohat, said “cowardly acts of terrorism” could not undermine the nation’s morale and that militant elements would never succeed in achieving their objectives.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif also condemned the Kohat blast and prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured.
Earlier this year, on February 6, a suicide bombing at Imambargah Khadijah al-Kubra in Islamabad’s Tarlai area killed at least 31 people and injured 169 others during Friday prayers.
Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack, saying one of its militants detonated an explosive vest inside the congregation. Police sources told Reuters that the attacker had been intercepted at the mosque gate before detonating the bomb.
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